Easel.



. G. B. STREIT.

I EASEL. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 10, 1911.

Patented Jan 14, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Attnmryu G. B. STREIT.

EASEL.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 10 1911.

1,050,403. Patented- Jan. 14, 1913.

SHfEETS-SHEBT 2. v

Illitm-ssn:

v UNITED STATES PTENT OFFICE.

GIQRGE STREIT, 013 DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

EASEL.

i Specification 01' Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 14, 1913.

Application filed June 10, 1911. Serial No. 682,827.

To-aZZ "whom it may concern: V

Be it known that I, Gnouon B. S'mnrr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, county of Wayne, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and. useful Imrovement in Easels, and declare the f olowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings,,wh1ch form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to easels for sup-v the easel set up. Fig. 4, is a cross section through the line M of Fig. 3. Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8 are modified forms of the latch-like interlock, which is included in this invention.

The easel is shown in the drawings in the double win or back-stay form, although it will work 'lly as well with a single backstay member. It comprises a vertical rectangular strip, on each side of which is a triangular piece, extending'the full length and formin a back-stay member A. The boundary 0% the rectangular stri is scored along the parallel lines bi an ej, also at the contlnuation of these lines, g c, and Half-way on the line b-c' at Z, and half-way on the line e--j, at k, there 1s cut a curved line indenting into the rectangular strip, and the out on one side returning at z, and on the opposite side the other out re- .turns at j. At both i and y a cut indents into each of the back-stay members, returning at g and h respectively forming lobes B. The cut-line crosses the vertical strip from g, to 71., forming a locking-tongue C which 1s traced through the points Z,v, g", k, j, and Is. The portion between 5, Z, k, and e constitutes a supporting member upon which the article to be supported rests. The curved lines Zz' and Zj, each indent into the vertical strip and form reinforcing or rib-stay members D which aid the rigidity of the backstay members. Theportion included within the points c, d It, forms a tie member T connecting the back-stay members together at the bottom. The outside .edge of each back-stay member is provided with a cut-away ortion from wh1ch rises a proection 2 t at divides the cut-away portion into two notches 3 and 4. Along the lines 6-0 and e-d in the blank are out two slits 5 in the locking-tongue, one on each side.

These slits are in the form of a straight slit with short slits ateach end curving in toward the opposite end; In the center of the main part of the tongue'is a circular aperture E by which the tongue maybe liftedQ The easel is locked into osition b lifting. the locking-tongue C and ending the backstay members along the scored lines to a position substantially ri ht-angular with the tie members, the loc g-tongue is then brought above the projection 2 on the edges ofv the back-stay members and each projection is forced up through the slits 5. i It will be found that the piece 6 included within the. slit, which may be called a latch, takes the form shown in Fig. 4, and when it is attempted to lift the locking-tongue from the projection, that the more effort that is applied the tighter the latches bear upon the projections, making it almost impossible to remove the locking-bar without destroying the easel. This lock is, so efiective that it is not necessary to use it in the form of a tongue, but it may be wholly disconnected and. used as a separate locking-bar, although I prefer to connect it in the form of a tongue as shown in the drawings, as it is more convenient to have this piece tied to the other parts.

Fig. 5, shows another form of latch in which a projection 2 having knobs 2 at each end is used. 011 the lobe portion an eye H is provided and at each end of the eye are cut semi-circular latch pieces 7. The eye can be slipped over the projection and the latches will be opened up by the knobs and the lobe will slip into position in the cutaway part, the latches springing back and engaging the under cut portions below the knobs, forming a securelock.

Fig. 6 shows a form in which the tongue C has a hinged latch'piece that folds along the scored line so that it may be inserted sidewise through the notch 9. When the latch resumes its normal position the tongue is held by the projection 10 and the notches 9 and 12 interlock iorming a notch-joint. Fig. 7 is the same form of an interlock but showing the hinged latch-piece 14 on the back-stay member and the rigid projection 13 on the tongue.

Fig. 8, shows a snap-lock latch constructed very similar to the drag latch shown in Fig. 1. An eye 15 is cut in the projection 2 and the latch-piece 6 is made somewhat pointed so that when the eye 16 is fitted over the projection and the latch-piece registers with the eye 15, it will snap in and firmly lock the parts.

All of these forms of locks work on kindred principles, bringing about the results by the use of one piece that is readily pushed aside to let the parts interengage, but which successfully resists ordinary attempts to disengage the parts.

What I claim is 1. An easel, having in combination a supporting member, a baclcstay member connected to one side of the supporting member and foldable to a substantially perpendicular position with respect to the supporting member, a locking member connected at one end with the supporting member and adapted to be swung back so that the opposite end engages with the rear of the backstay member, andmeans for interengaging said locking member with the back-stay member, comprising a projection on one of the said members to be interengaged and a hinging projection or. latch-like member on the other member to be interengaged, whereby said hinging projection or latch-like member can be swung to engage with the other projection but whereby it resists disengage notc es ment by presenting rigid portions to the disengaging eii'ort, substantially as described.

2. An easel, having in combination a back-stay member, having one edge irregular, a supporting member connected with the opposite edge and foldable into angular relation with said baclestay member and a locking member provided with a swinging latch-like member, the said locking member being connected with the supporting member and interlocking with the irregular edge of the back-stay member by the latch like member swinging to allow the locking member to engage an irregular. portion, but resisting disengagement of the locking member from the back-stay member b said latch-like member encountering said irregular edge, substantially as described.

3. An easel, having in combination a back-stay member provided with a projection on one edge, a supporting member connected with thereof and foldable into angular rethe opposite edgev lation with said back-stay member and a lockingomember having an eye adapted to engage over said projection and a latch-like member adapted to swing to allow said eye to engage over said pro ection, but engaging against said projection as a drag to prevent disengagement of the locking member from the back-stay member, substantially as described.

' In testimony whereof, I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE E. STREIT.

Witnesses STUART C. BARNES, VIRGINIA v G. SrnArr. 

